Nutcracker Program | Louisville Academy of Fine Arts (LAFA)

Welcome to the Nutcracker!

Thank you for joining us for this wonderful and magical performance of The Nutcracker. Many of the dancers in this year’s production are students I’ve had the privilege of watching grow up. It feels like just yesterday that our Sugar Plums were tiny Mice. Every single dancer has poured their heart into this show, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Countless hours of classes and rehearsals go into a production like this, and their joyful dedication inspires me every day. There is truly nothing more fulfilling than watching these kids shine on stage. Thank you for continuing to support the arts and for sharing these moments with us.

This season has been one of the best of my artistic career. In this performance, you’ll see some of your favorite sets, costumes, and dancers, along with new choreography and choices. I still remember dancing in my backyard almost 15 years ago, dreaming of the chance to choreograph my own versions of the pieces you’ve all come to know and love. This year, I was given that opportunity. Without the dancers’ positive attitudes, our staff’s incredible support, and the dedication of our volunteers, none of this would have been possible. I am sincerely grateful to each and every one of you.

My hope is not that you compare, but that you see the growth, inspiration, and heart behind these changes. I hope you see not only me reflected in this work, but also the artists who shaped me. Above all, I hope you can recognize the influence of my greatest role model, inspiration, and artistic hero, someone many of you know and love, my mom, Julie McWilliams. I hope I have done her, and you, justice.

Thank you.

Best, Grace McWilliams Director, The Nutcracker

~ No flash photography ~

~ No video recording ~

The Nutcracker Crew
Director, Louisville Academy of Fine Arts – Julianne Whitman McWilliams
Director, The Nutcracker – Grace McWilliams
Assistant Director – Clare Kresse
Choreography – Clare Kresse, Grace McWilliams, & Julianne Whitman McWilliams
Rehearsal Assistant – Jon McWilliams
Director of Production / Stage Manager – Emma Lucas
Assistant Stage Manager – Abby Marvin
Technical Director – David W. Nelson Sound – Ogle Center Tech
Costumes designed by – Julianne Whitman McWilliams
Costumers – Trista Coy, Selena Elbl, Patricia Gibson, Donna Ruley
Sets and Props – Stephanie Dailey, Clare Kresse, Evan Kopytek, Leigh Ann Lynn, Emma Lucas, Abby Marvin, Grace McWilliams, Jon McWilliams, Lauren Schoen, Jenny Von Gerlachter
Stage Crew – Charlotte Bariteau, Lydia Morgan (Alumni)
Program Design – Grace McWilliams
Poster Design – Clare Kresse
Ticket Sales – Jennifer Dee Schulten,
Ogle Center Volunteer Coordinator– Grace McWilliams
Head Volunteers – Stephanie Dailey, Leigh Ann Lynn, Lauren Schoen
Flowers for the dancers – Kentucky Blooms
Videos – Harlan Richter (Video Wizard)
Door Monitors – Kelsey Colvin, Reid Hafer, Erin Marvin

And a lot of Volunteers tirelessly assisting all of the LAFA staff and dancers!
A special Thank You to the Ogle Center Staff!

Thank you to our Set the Scene sponsor,
The Fat Lamb

Participating Studios
Thank you for trusting us with your dancers!

Dance Unlimited, Elevate Dance Ministry, Louisville Ballet School, That’s Dancing, Thrive School of Dance, Village Dance Company

The Nutcracker

Music by: Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Original Sugar Plum Grand Pas Choreography: Marius Petipa

Cast A: 12/12 & 12/13 at 7:00 / Cast B: 12/13 & 12/14 at 2:00

Act One – Scene One

The Party Scene

Clara Bryn Billingsley / Maizey Bowen

Fritz Maddy Fohr / Aubrie Price

Party Children Beatrix Bottom, Lucy Hubler / Nora Schoen (Sunday), Ellie Lavelle, Bella Lynn, Lucie McGarity, Rose O’Brien, Anabel Overbey, Raven Owsley, Rian Wildman, Ruby Witten Herr

Drosselmeyer Jon McWilliams

Frau Stahlbaum Sherry Gilpin

Clara’s Friends Ella Dailey, Carter Hafer / Ava Claire Malone, Holland Hulsewede, Addie Lynn, Rachel Mills, Evangeline Montoya, Charlotte Peterson, Claire Schoen

Harlequin Marion Barber / Abby Dailey

Columbine Rachel Schrodt / Clara Dupont

Act One – Scene Two

The Battle

Medic Mice Ruby Elmes / Harper Allen & Lily Pesek / Molly Brice

Little Mice

Cast A: Margot McDonald & Willa Wise

Cast B: Birdie Lavelle, Ellie Oh, Kynleigh Reynolds

Nutcracker Prince Liam Corbin

Toy Soldiers Sallie Goodwin, Maddy Fohr, Norah Peercy, Aubrie Price, Preston Price, Rae Rudwell, Nora Schoen

Rat King Ava Claire Malone / Carter Hafer

Rats Rhodes Becher, Holland Hulsewede, Rachel Mills, Taylor O’Brien, Charlotte Peterson, Ella Dailey / Claire Schoen

Act One – Scene Three

The Snow Forest

Snow Queen Charlotte Peterson / Rachel Mills

Snowflurries Mae Bridgman, Ella Bruce, Frances Rose Holley, Ellie Leezer, Anna Ng, Jael Voigt

Waltz of the Snowflakes mMaizey Bowen / Bryn Billingsley, Abby Dailey, Ella Dailey, Clara Dupont, Carter Hafer, Holland Hulsewede, Addie Lynn, Ava Claire Malone, Claire Schoen, Rachel Schrodt

~ 15 Minute Intermission ~

Act Two - Scene One

Cotton Candy Clouds

Angels Violet Chavez, Grace Cotter, Caroline Eifler, Lydia Garcia, Laila Karaoud, Bea Lawrence, Greta McGarvey, Charlotte O’Brien, Lucy Ritter, Audrey Russell, Charlie Shain, McKenzie Voyles

Act Two - Scene Two

Land of the Sweets

Sugar Plum Fairy Claire Schoen / Ella Dailey

Cooks

Cast A: Jazlynn Butler, Evelyn Richardson, Conley Sorrels, Elise Von Gerlachter, Esra Wade, Aria Walker

Cast B: Amelia Brice, Ricky Kolk, Wesley Kolk, Emma Nelson, Madelyn Neslon, Lily Ng

Chocolate Ava Claire Malone / Addie Lynn & Rachel Mills / Charlotte Peterson with Marion Barber / Abby Dailey, Rhodes Becher / Clara Dupont, Sallie Goodwin, Evangeline Montoya, Taylor O’Brien / Maddy Fohr, Aubrie Price / Rachel Schrodt, Preston Price, Rae Rudwell / Nora Schoen

Coffee Carter Hafer

Coffee Corps Maizey Bowen / Bryn Billingsley, Holland Hulsewede, Addie Lynn / Ava Claire Malone

Teapot Quartet Abby Dailey / Marion Barber, Clara Dupont / Taylor O’Brien, Nora Schoen / Rae Rudwell, Rachel Schrodt / Rhodes Becher Marzipan Maizey Bowen / Bryn Billingsley, Ella Dailey / Claire Schoen, Ava Claire Malone / Addie Lynn, Rachel Mills / Charlotte Peterson

Candy Canes Rhodes Becher / Taylor O’Brien, Abby Dailey, Clara Dupont, Norah Peercy, Rae Rudwell / Nora Schoen, Rachel Schrodt

Madame Bonbon Holland Hulsewede

Polichinelles

Cast A: Reagan Ball, Quinn Couch, Addison Docimo, Camille Hartlage, Kaia Payne, Ezra Sexton, Ava Willoughby, Hadley Willoughby

Cast B: Lydia Carroll, Iris Colvin, Stella Coy, Myra Gupta, Hattie Kilby, Jordan Marvin, Rosie Ruley, Lillie Weir

Dew Drop Fairy Addie Lynn / Ava Claire Malone

BumbleBees Mae Bridgman, Ella Bruce, Frances Rose Holley, Ellie Leezer, Anna Ng, Jael Voigt

Waltz of the Flowers Marion Barber / Rhodes Becher, Maizey Bowen / Bryn Billingsley, Abby Dailey, Ella Dailey / Claire Schoen, Clara Dupont, Carter Hafer, Taylor O’Brien, Charlotte Peterson / Rachel Mills, Rachel Schrodt

Flower Fairies Sallie Goodwin, Maddy Fohr, Evangeline Montoya, Norah Peercy, Aubrie Price, Rae Rudwell, Nora Schoen

~ The End ~